Windows Explorer becomes VERY slow and/or stops responding.

For whatever reason Explorer has recently started locking files that aren't being used such that they can't be moved, renamed, or deleted. It almost seems at random.

So I got a program called "unlocker" that breaks the lockouts on files so they can me moved again.

The problem with unlocker is that if you do this to more then one or two files per boot, then explorer starts getting really flaky.

For example it could take 5 minutes to open one folder.

I can fix the problem by force quiting explorer and then reopening it with the task manager.

But I really don't want to do that 15 times a day.

Another way I can fix it is by right clicking on the start menu and then opening perhaps 5 to 10 "explore all users"... I have to do it quickly... one right after the other.

That will clear the problem for about 5 minutes and explorer will behave itself.

Then it will start doing it again.

Really, what I'd like is for explorer to stop arbitarly locking files or for it to stop cheesing out on me when unlocker breaks the lockouts.

Unlocker makes it very clear which program is locking a file. If I have word open and try to move the word document it says that Word has locked the file. If I'm copying some big files and try to delete them it says explorer has them. That's fine.

But it's saying things are locked that haven't been touched by anything in weeks... and it's always explorer locking them out.

Another work around I've found is that alternate file browsers will typically not respect These arbitary lockouts. So I can move or delete files with a dos prompt or Nero's file browser for example.

"The way to work around this is to un-mount all the network drives and make sure there are no bad disks in the CD or DVD drive. Bad floppy disks are also pretty notorious for causing these problems. To un-mount all the network drives, you can right-click on the mapped drive and hit "disconnect network drive"

"There is no reason to use drive mappings especially when dead mappings cause so many problems. Drop those drive mappings like a bad habit!"

We experienced this problem at our office with about 11 users. The fix is to cut and paste the folder c:\docs and settings\"profile name"\local settings\application data\microsoft\windows" to another location. Log back in and problem will be resolved.

what do you mean cut and paste? do you mean delete the information in it? Because moving the file should just cause the OS to loose track of the information. And if it can't find it, then what's the point of having it in another folder? To back it up?

Had similar issues. I agree with Dalamar. I was able to simply rename the folder mentioned while being logged in to the local administrator account (or any account on the machine that has administrative rights). Once I logged back into the profile that was having the issue, viola. It was gone.

Do you mean just simply move the folder? Because that will cause windows to lose track of it. Which to the OS is the same thing as deleting it. Or do you mean moving it AND editing the registry so that windows knows where it is?

It does... I wasn't sure if we were forcing windows to refresh that folder or if we were just moving it somewhere else (while changing most registry entries to reflect that move) to break non-relevant references.

I tried
c:\documents and settings\<profilename>\local settings\application data\microsoft\windows
and could not get there. Probably 'cause of profile name. I tried just going to c:\documents and Settings\ and got the message "access denied".

Appreciate any more specific steps. This constant stop has been going on for months. I'm hoping for relief. Thank you

If you're getting "Access Denied" when trying to access Documents and Settings, then you don't have administrative privileges on the computer. The user account that you use to rename the folder will need to be a different username than the account having the problem and that different username must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer. If the account has that, it should be able to access any user profile on the computer.

you can also get that sometimes even if you do have admin privileges. Admin privileges do not mean you have access to everything merely that you can change any setting.

Anyone that has had to change system files in Vista for example knows that the admin account cannot initially delete certain things because they've been claimed by some builtin "installer" account. It is however very easy to just take ownership and change the settings appropriately.

True true. Vista is a totally different animal. I mean, why is it again that if I am an Administrator that I have to "Elevate" my privileges to do administrative tasks? *chuckles* I know the answer. It just took me a while to get used to it

Since we're talking XP here for this thread, unless someone has gone in and changed all the security rights of the folder system (which could be the case in a corporate environment), the Administrators group will have administrative access to all the profiles on the machine and should be able to move/delete/rename folders in other profiles without taking ownership. But of course taking ownership is easy to do as an Admin and can be done if for some reason access rights are denied.

I can easily find Documents and settings on my old XP computer, but I have not yet been able to locate it on the Vista I am having problems with.
I am Administrator, but I see from previous postings I may have to reset.
So far, I still have sporadic: "Windows Explorer has stopped responding" messages and I cannot find the common thread.
Unfortunately I do not understand the higher-tech lingo. I can follow specific step-by-step instructions.
RVer

I can easily find Documents and settings on my old XP computer, but I have not yet been able to locate it on the Vista I am having problems with.
I am Administrator, but I see from previous postings I may have to reset.
So far, I still have sporadic: "Windows Explorer has stopped responding" messages and I cannot find the common thread.
Unfortunately I do not understand the higher-tech lingo. I can follow specific step-by-step instructions.
RVer

Click to expand...

First, what version of XP do you have (if you have vista then please tell us the version of vista)? Right click on "my computer" and select properties. It should tell you the version right there.

Second, have explorer show "hidden" files. Open "Folder Options" under the "tools" menu which can be found on the menu between "favorites" and "help". Select the "view" tab, then check "show hidden files and folders"

Third, right click on the folder that is giving you problems and select "security". If that doesn't show up then I can go through a step by step on how to fix that. Open the "advanced" tab on the security window and make sure your account and/or the user group "administrators" has "Full Control". Then check the "replace permission entries on child objects with entries shown here that apply to child objects" box and press ok. The system should either either say you do not have "ownership" of the object or it will begin changing the NTFS security settings which can take awhile. If it says you don't have ownership then tell me and I'll give you a step by step for that.

You should now be able to both see and modify (add, read, write, delete) anything within the folder without NTFS security getting in the way. There should be no open files if you're logged into a DIFFERENT account. If you're logged into the account that you're modifying then you need to log into a different admin account.

my computer or elements seem to be different from yours. I did not find Folder Options under tools. I finally did a "search for Folder Options ", it appeared and I checked "show hidden files...."
"Windows Explorer" brings me the "Documents" files. In "Internet Explorer" I was able to assure that I have administrator control and could effect ...sorry I am not sure exact title now, but childproof/minor controls....something along those lines where I can protect underage from whatever.
I have no clue what NTFS is or how to check for it.
I certainly appreciate your specific step directions. Hope with your continuing help I'll handle these final curative steps.

my computer or elements seem to be different from yours. I did not find Folder Options under tools. I finally did a "search for Folder Options ", it appeared and I checked "show hidden files...."
"Windows Explorer" brings me the "Documents" files. In "Internet Explorer" I was able to assure that I have administrator control and could effect ...sorry I am not sure exact title now, but childproof/minor controls....something along those lines where I can protect underage from whatever.
I have no clue what NTFS is or how to check for it.
I certainly appreciate your specific step directions. Hope with your continuing help I'll handle these final curative steps.

I have Now set up new account/user with Administrator rights. I have taken a photo of each of the frames that I get so you can see what I see..... Please advise where to post them, if it is okay to send the photos to you

the error message says:
"WINDOWS EXPLORER is not responding.
If you restart or close the program, you might lose
information.
> Restart the program
> Close the program
> Wait for the program to respond"

I cannot identify what triggers this response. Is it Internet Explorer 7?
When I go to Windows Explorer, I get my list of documents.